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Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of Georgia
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands 1865 - 1869
National Archives Microfilm Publication M798 Roll 32
Reports Relating to Murders and Outrages 1865 - 1868
List of Freedmen Murdered or Assaulted 1867
"1866 Report of Persons Murdered in District of Griffin, Georgia"
Name of Person Murdered: Unknown (colored). Place: Pike County. Name of Murderer: Party of men (white). Date of Killing: Unknown. Remarks: The boy was taken by force from the Sheriff of the county and afterwards found in the river with his throat cut from ear to ear. Case with statement reported to Asst. Com. 20 July 1866.
Name of Person Murdered: Unknown (colored). Place: Pike County. Name of Murderer: BROWN (white). Date of Killing: On or about 8 Sep 1866. Remarks: A warrant for the arrest of BROWN was issued by the civil authorities who it was found had left the county for Texas. Case reported to Asst. Com. 22 Sep 1866.
"11 OCT 1866 Report of Persons Murdered in Marietta, Georgia"
Name of Person Murdered: HENRY GAMBLE (colored). Place: Cobb County. Name of Murderer: DAVID HOWELL (white). Date of Killing: 23 August 1866. Remarks: To be hanged 26 Oct 1866.
Name of Person Murdered: BURRELL MABLE (colored). Place: Cobb County. Name of Murderer: A.J. SMITH, JAMES SYMONTON, & A.C. ASQUA (all white). Date of Killing: 31 August 1866. Remarks: Not yet arrested, warrant issued at large, Maj. LEONARD thinks he will arrest the parties.
"1866 Report of Persons Murdered in District Macon, Georgia"
Name of Person Murdered: ROBERT SUTTON (colored). Place: Bibb County. Name of Murderer: THOS. KNIGHT (white). Date of Killing: 1 April 1866. Remarks: Turned over to Civil Authorities to be tried in next term Superior Court.
Name of Person Murdered: BEN MYERS (colored). Place: Pulaski County. Name of Murderer: CALVIN BROWN (white). Date of Killing: May 1866. Remarks: Not arrested.
Name of Person Murdered: EPHRAIM BROWN (colored). Place: Houston County. Name of Murderer: RANSOM Y.B. DANIELS (white). Date of Killing: June 1866. Remarks: Bound over to appear at Superior Court, Houston County.
Name of Person Murdered: ELIJAH HAYNES (colored). Place: Twiggs County. Name of Murderer: WILLIAM FITZPATRICK. Date of Killing: 21 June 1866. Remarks: Bound over to appear at Superior Court, Twiggs County.
Name of Person Murdered: AARON ENGLISH (colored). Place: Monroe County. Name of Murderer: DVE (?) GODDARD. Date of Killing: 8 July 1866. Remarks: Not arrested.
Name of Person Murdered: ADELINE (colored). Place: Bibb County. Name of Murderer: ZACHARY GRIFFIN (white). Date of Killing: 24 August 1866. Remarks: In jail awaiting trial.
Name of Person Murdered: POMPEY OBANNEN (colored). Place: Wilkinson County. Name of Murderer: A number of citizens (white). Date of Killing: 29 June 1866. Remarks: Bound over by Civil Authorities after arrest by Militia.
1866 Report of Persons Murdered in District of Columbus, Georgia"
Name of Person Murdered: ISAAC BRANNON (colored). Place: Talbotton Name of Murderer: STEPHEN DIXON, ____ BROWN, W.T. BARNES (all white) and TONEY PRIVE (colored). Date of Killing: 1 March 1866. Remarks: The party except BROWN were arrested by the military authority, and afterwards turned over to the Civil Authority of the County. "Not yet tried."
"1865 and 1866 Report of Persons Murdered in the District of Rome, Georgia"
Name of Person Murdered: HIGHTOWER (colored). Place: Polk. Supposed Murderer: LEE MCCOMER, JOHN CAMMON & ELLIS CLEMENCE (all white). Date of Killing: June 1866. Remarks: No steps taken by Civil Authorities towards even investigating the matter. nothing but threats of killing either black or white who reported the facts.
Name of Person Murdered: GODFREY SPROUT (colored). Place: Cass County. Supposed Murderers: POLK FAIRSTONE, JR., POLK FAIRSTONE, SR., JIM BONDS & Bros., & FELIX SHEETS (all white). Date of Killing: December 1865. Remarks: No complaint even made to the civil authorities.
Name of Person Murdered: LOUISA WHITE (colored). Place: Floyd. Supposed Murderer: WHITE (white). Date of Killing: April 1866. Remarks: Supposed murderer never arrested nor the case investigated by the Civil Authorities.
"1865-1866 Report of Persons Murdered in District of Brunswick, Georgia"
Name of Person Murdered: DR. R. H. EATON (white). Place: Camden. Supposed Murderers: ROBERT ARMSTRONG, GEORGE JOHNSON, SILAS PICKLEY, JOSHUA PICKLEY, YORK WILLIAMS, HENRY WILLIAMS & MOSES FLOYD (all colored). Date of Killing: 22 June 1866. Remarks: Two of these men were arrested, tried and found guilty, upon the evidence of ROBERT ARMSTRONG who turned the State evidence. Three were condemned to be hung but escaped from jail.
Name of Person Murdered: GEORGE NICKLAS (colored). Place: Glynn. Supposed Murderer: _________ (blank). Date of Killing: Sep 1865. Remarks: Found in the road about two miles from Brunswick, with his head cut off. Supposed murdered by two drunken men, strangers.
Name of Person Murdered: SMITH (colored). Place: Glynn. Supposed Murderer: _____ (blank) Date of Killing: November. Remarks: Missing, supposed to be murdered.
Name of Person Murdered: MARY WRIGHT (colored). Place: Camden. Supposed Murderer: N. PARKER (white). Date of Killing: 24 June 1866. Remarks: Put in jail with four others for killing a mule. Taken out and hanged to a tree. PARKER was arrested but escaped on his way to jail.
Name of Person Murdered: NANCY WRIGHT (colored). Place: Camden. Supposed Murderer: DR. WM. WRIGHT (white). Date of Killing: 5 May 1866. Remarks: The deceased was about 14 years old was shot by DR. WRIGHT when he was drunk. A bill was found against the doctor. He made his escape before being arrested.
"Report of Persons Murdered in the District of Waynesboro, Georgia, 1865"
Name of Person Murdered: THOMAS A. BYNE (white). Place: Burke. Supposed Murderer: ESSEX BYNE (colored). Date of Killing: July 1865. Remarks: Tried by Military Commission in Augusta, GA and executed.
Name of Person Murdered: Unknown (colored). Place: Burke. Supposed Murderer: JACOB CHANCE (white). Date of Killing: Summer 1865. Remarks: Tried by Military Commission and acquitted.
"Report of Persons Murdered & Assaulted with intent to kill &c. in the sub District of Macon, GA. during the year 1867 by N. SELLERS HILL, Sub. Asst. Commr., R. F. & A. L."
Person Assaulted: ABNER SMITH (col'd). Offender: W.F. KANE (white). Injuries Received: Stabbed and killed. Where: Bibb County. Cause: Attempt at burglary. Action Taken: Warrant issued, Grand Jury found no bill. KANE lived in Rutland District, Bibb County.
Person Assaulted: POLLY (col'd). Offender: CHARLOTTE HOLT (col'd). Injuries Received: Struck on the head with a stone "assaulted." Where: Bibb County. Cause: Not known. Action Taken: True bill found, on bail, not yet tried.
Person Assaulted: JEFF CLAYTON (col'd). Offender: RICHARD HARDMAN (col'd). Injuries Received: Stabbed. Where: Bibb County. Cause: Dispute. Action Taken: Four (4) years in the penitentiary.
Person Assaulted: ISAAC WINGFIELD (col'd). Offender: ISAAC HARRIS (col'd). Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Bibb County. Cause: Dispute in dining room Lanier House. Action Taken: One (1) year in penitentiary.
Person Assaulted: TONY MCCOLLY (col'd). Offender: THOMAS COFIELD (white). Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Houston County. Cause: Political dispute. Action Taken: Warrant issued and true bill found no arrest made still at large, has friends in Arkansas and Louisiana.
Person Assaulted: MOSES GILBERT & JOSEPH O. PRY (col'd). Offender: JAMES IVY (white). Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Houston County. Cause: Dispute. Action Taken: Same process as above and still at large.
Person Assaulted: ANTHONY THOMAS (col'd). Offender: H. HADDOCK (white). Injuries Received: Assaulted. Where: Houston County. Cause: Leaving plantation after contracting. Action Taken: Warrant issued, parties arrested, case settled by consent of parties, and Capt. N.S. HILL, S.W. Com. Incident occurred in Houston County.
Person Assaulted: TOBIAS POWELL (col'd). Offender: STEPHEN DANIEL (white). Injuries Received: Assaulted. Where: Houston County. Cause: Unknown. Action Taken: Warrant issued and matter compromised at the request of the freedman.
Person Assaulted: MAJOR LEWIS (col'd). Offender: STEPHEN DANIEL (white). Injuries Received: Assaulted. Where: Dooly County. Cause: Dispute. Action Taken: Warrant issued, no bill found, whole proceedings forwarded to Gov. JENKINS at the time. May be in Georgia or Florida.
Person Assaulted: SIMON MORGAN (col'd). Offender: GENERAL TAYLOR (col'd). Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Monroe County. Cause: Unknown. Action Taken: Found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to one year in the penitentiary.
Person Assaulted: DANL. CUNNINGHAM (col'd). Offender: ZED COFF (col'd). Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Putnam County. Cause: Dispute. Action Taken: Escaped, supposed to be in North Carolina.
Person Assaulted: CAROLINE REED (col'd). Offender: BENTLEY HERD (col'd). Injuries Received: Assault. Where: Putnam County. Cause: Dispute. Action Taken: Sentenced to penitentiary for 3-1/2 years.
Person Assaulted: GIBE GREAR (col'd). Offender: GILBERT GREAR (white). Injuries Received: Shot, not mortal. Where: Jasper County. Cause: Dispute. Action Taken: Under bond to appear before the Superior Court of Jasper County.
Person Assaulted: REUBEN REED (col'd). Offender: JACKSON THOMAS (col'd). Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Baldwin County. Cause: Dispute. Action Taken: Escaped from jail.
Person Assaulted: HENRY WOOTEN (col'd). Offender: ELBERT BUSTING (col'd). Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Baldwin County. Cause: Dispute. Action Taken: Acquitted on trial.
Person Assaulted: TAYLOR WASHINGTON (col'd). Offender: LOUIS KENNER (white) Injuries Received: Assaulted. Where: Baldwin County. Cause: Dispute. Action Taken: Case settled by parties as both parties fired four shots.
Person Assaulted: JENNIE BRANNON (col'd). Offender: ALFRED BRANNON (col'd). Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Wilkinson County. Cause: Family quarrel. Action Taken: Tried, convicted of murder and executed.
Person Assaulted: J.B.B. HUMPHREYS (col'd). Offender: ALFRED OLIVER (white). Injuries Received: Assaulted. Where: Twiggs County. Cause: Quarrel. Action Taken: OLIVER arrested and tried. Warrant dismissed at the insistence of HUMPHREYS.
Person Assaulted: BOB WIMBERLY (col'd). Offender: ANDREW SEARS (white). Injuries Received: Assaulted. Where: Twiggs County. Cause: Quarrel. Action Taken: Warrant issued and the party arrested and bound over on a bond of $1000.00 for his appearance at the Superior Court to answer.
Person Assaulted: GEORGE MOSS (col'd). Offender: JAMES OXFORD (white). Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Washington County. Cause: Not known. Action Taken: Warrant issued but party never arrested. Now in Washington County.
Person Assaulted: GILBERT BRANTLY (col'd). Offender: SAMUEL TREFORD (white). Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Washington County. Cause: Not known. Action Taken: Never arrested, still in Washington County, Georgia.
Person Assaulted: AUSTIN MILLS (col'd). Offender: JOE POUNDS (col'd). Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Washington County. Cause: Quarrel. Action Taken: The Grand Jury found no bill against POUNDS.
Person Assaulted: GEORGE LESSON (TESSION?) (col'd). Offender: FRANK HOWARD (col'd). Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Washington County. Cause: Fighting. Action Taken: Escaped, whereabouts unknown.
Person Assaulted: ALONZO KING (col'd). Offender: JOSEPH KENT (col'd). Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Pulaski County. Cause: Self defense. Action Taken: Tried by Civil Court and discharged.
Person Assaulted: JOHN WESTMORELAND (race?). Offender: JEFF CHERRY (col'd). Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Pulaski County. Cause: Self defense. Action Taken: Tried and discharged.
Person Assaulted: PATE JOHNSON (race?) Offender: Not known. Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Montgomery County. Cause: Not known. Action Taken: (blank).
Person Assaulted: CHARLEY MCCRAE (race?). Offender: BILL LOSS (col'd). Injuries Received: Murdered. Where: Montgomery County. Cause: Self defense. Action Taken: Party not arrested.
"Report of the number of Freedmen murdered and assaulted
with intent to kill in the sub District of Athens year 1867."
Freedman Murdered: JACK SIMMS Date: March 6. Injuries: Shot thro' head. Cause: Unknown. Attacker: E. F. MCMANAMAN. Disposition: Cannot be arrested by Civil Authorities. Still at large. Resides in Clarke County, GA.
Freedman Assaulted: ADELINE RUSE. Date: July 1. Injuries: Beaten with club. Cause: Unknown. Attacker: LLOYD BENTON (white). Disposition: Case reported to Asst. Comm. &c. Atlanta, GA. Case (finally) amicably settled. BENTON is at large and resides near Athens, Georgia.
Freedman Assaulted: ANDREW PRICE. Date: May 15. Injuries: Stabbed. Cause: "for not bringing WESTMORELAND a cup of coffee immediately when asked for." Attacker: R. W. WESTMORELAND (student, white). Disposition: WESTMORELAND was tried by J.D. PELLARD, Intendant, Athens, Georgia. he was fined $50.00 and costs. WESTMORELAND is at large, place unknown.
Freedman Murdered: JIM KNOX. Date: August 15. Injuries: Shot (at night). Cause: For stealing corn. Attacker: HAL STEPHENSON (col'd). Disposition: Arrested and bound over to Superior Court, Clarke County, Feb 1868. Bail $300. STEPHENSON is at large and resides in Athens, Georgia.
Freedman Assaulted: JASPER KINNEBREW. Date: September 2. Injuries: Shot in wrist (severe). Cause: Quarrel. Attacker: LAMEY AYCOCK (white). Disposition: Case referred to Asst. Commr. &c. Atlanta, Georgia. AYCOCK resides in Oglethorpe County.
Freedman Assaulted: GRIEF SMITH. Date: September 18. Injuries: Shot in back. Cause: In defense of an assault by SMITH. Attacker: D. MCDONALD (white) Disposition: Tried by C.A. at Lexington, Georgia. Case dismissed. MCDONALD resides at Lexington Depot, Georgia.
Freedman Murdered: FRANK WOOD. Date: August. Injuries: Shot (at night). Cause: Unknown. Attacker: Unknown. Disposition: (blank).
Freedman Assaulted: HILLIARD THRASHER. Date: December 19. Injuries: Shot in back. Cause: HILLIARD contradicted a statement made by A. THRASHER. Attacker: ALBERT THRASHER (white). Disposition: Comprised the matter between themselves. THRASHER resides in Clarke County, Georgia.
"Report of Freed-People murdered or assaulted with intent to kill, in the
counties of Harris, Troup and Meriwether during the year 1867."
Person Assaulted: ANDREW BOOZIER (col'd). Attacker: JOHN COPELAND (white). Date: 12 May 1867. County: Troup. Remarks: The case BOOZIER & COPELAND both shot with guns, BOOZIER wounded and recovered in a few days. Case was settled and parties in County at time.
Person Assaulted: JOHN BOON (col'd). Attacker: JOSEPH RUTLEDGE (white). Date: 8 Sep 1867. County: Troup. Remarks: RUTLEDGE assaulted BOON, who did not shoot. Settled by Civil Authorities, both parties in county, no injury done.
Person Assaulted: FRANK DAVENPORT (white). Attacker: CARLISLE (white). Date: 24 Dec 1867. County: Harris. Remarks: CARLISLE murdered FRANK E. DAVENPORT, both parties shooting at the same time. CARLISLE was arrested by Civil Authorities. Parties lived in Harris County. ("void").
Person Assaulted: VINCENT BOYKIN & JOSEPH HENDERSON. Attacker: JOHN ADAMS, THOMAS L. HARRIS, JAMES THOMAS (white). Date: Sep 1867. County: Troup. Remarks: Trial never came off. Freedmen failing to appear against parties.
"Report of Freed People murdered and assaulted with intent
to kill, in the sub. District of Columbus, Georgia (1867)."
Person Assaulted: SAWNEY SAPP. Attacker: JOHN SIMPSON (col'd). Date: 28 November. County: Muscogee. Cause: Unknown. Injury: Killed. Remarks: Tried, found guilty and sentenced to hang. In county jail.
Person Assaulted: GREEN PICKETT. Attacker: THOMAS HARRIS (white). Date: 27 December. County: Marion. Cause: Caught stealing. Injury: Whipped to death. Remarks: HARRIS escaped before being arrested and is at large.
Person Assaulted: WASH DAY. Attacker: PETER MURPHY (col'd). Date: October County: Macon. Cause: Unknown. Injury: Killed. Remarks: MURPHY was arrested, broke jail, and is now supposed to be residing in Macon or Houston Counties.
Person Assaulted: DIANA HOLCOMB. Attacker: BOB MCMILLAN (col'd). Date: January. County: Macon. Cause: Unknown. Injury: Killed. Remarks: Arrested, tried sentenced to be hung, broke jail, and is now supposed to be in Alabama.
Person Assaulted: Unknown freedman. Attacker: JACK GAINS (race?). Date: March. County: Macon. Cause: Unknown. Injury: Killed. Remarks: GAINS ran away before being arrested, the authorities used every exertion to secure him.
Person Assaulted: ISHAM. Attacker: ANDREW (col'd). Date: 16 June. County: Marion. Cause: Unknown. Injury: Severely cut with knife. Remarks: Attacker ran away before being arrested. ISHAM recovered.
"Report of W. F. WHITE, S.A.C. in Compliance with circular letter dated February 24th 1868."
Names: NELSON LEALY, col'd, murdered his brother. Injuries: Shot and stabbed. Cause: Quarrel about their meat house. Date and Place: October 1867. Remarks: NELSON gave himself up, was tried and acquitted as it was shown he did it in self defense, the brother having shot at him before NELSON shot. NELSON resides in Thomas County.
Names: THOMAS RAGAN, white, assaulted MAGGY WILLIAMS, col'd. Injuries: Bad cut, injuries inflicted with a knife. Cause: Jealousy. Date and Place: March 24, 1867, Bainbridge. Remarks: W.T. CLARK, agent at Bainbridge, reports RAGAN was arrested by Civil Authorities has laid in jail some weeks. The woman would not appear, he was released. he resides in Bainbridge, clerk with one T.H. BRYANT. The woman was half injured and for a while it was thought would die. She was a woman of the town.
Names: SAML. BISHOP, col'd, assaulted ISAM SHULER. Injuries: Attacked with a knife and an axe nearly killed. Cause: Short money. Date and Place: 12 Oct 1867. Remarks: BISHOP owed SHULER. BISHOP was a bad man. Civil Authorities arrested him same day, was taken to jail and soon after released thru personal friends. Whereabouts unknown. Having soon after committed to trial for burglary, sent to jail and broke jail.
Names: WM. HARRELL, white, assaulted ELDRED BRUTON, col'd. Injuries: Shot in the knee, not badly. Cause: Was attempting to enter a store to procure liquor was ordered away not leaving was fired upon. Date and Place: Oct or Nov 1867, Bainbridge. Remarks: "This case illustrates the way of administering justice in these latitudes." Civil Officers carried HARRELL to the guard house jail. Broke jail, after some four hours, was released. Settled some way. Present whereabouts are Bainbridge.
Names: PETER ADAMS, col'd, murdered PAUL. Injuries: Struck with a piece of rather light wood and killed. Cause: Quarrel. Date and Place: Jan 1867, Bainbridge. Remarks: The man PAUL was drunk and in an altercation. PETER ADAMS his brother-in-law struck him the blow that caused his death. Securities were compelled to pay lawyers $400. Miss SCHMOLL & SCOTT became securities for the lawyers for "2 suppers," and he was released. Present whereabouts are Bainbridge.
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